Liz Hunter is the Mother Ships (MOSHIP) Surveyor for the Oceaneering Technologies (OTECH) group in San Diego, California, supporting the U.S. Navy’s submarine rescue mission.
No stranger to leadership, Liz served eight years in the active-duty U.S. Coast Guard and continues to serve today as a Lieutenant Commander at Sector San Diego where she leads the reserve Incident Management division whose focus is oil spill response in the southern California region.
At the age of 17, Liz enrolled at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering in 2008.
Her first set of orders sent her to Sitka, Alaska, to serve as a Deck Watch Officer on the buoy tender U.S. Coast Guard Cutter MAPLE (WLB-207). She attended dive school at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida, shortly after.
Liz seized every opportunity to explore various roles in pursuit of mastering and developing new skills.
“My specialties were serving as a Dive Officer and a buoy tender sailor. For five of the eight active-duty years I served, I was stationed on a 225-foot Seagoing Buoy Tenders (WLB), servicing aids to navigation as a Deck Watch Officer (and diver), anywhere from American Samoa in the South Pacific Ocean to Juneau, Alaska, in the Southeast Alaskan Inside Passage.”
“And…I would do it all over again. She said. Although, I am so thankful for where I am now. Life is full of different opportunities, never limit yourself. You’re capable of more than you can fathom.”
Currently, as a MOSHIP Surveyor, Liz said that serving in the military gave her a clear understanding of how “important clear and concise communication is.” She learned to prioritize, be confident, and be unapologetic when asking questions, which has served her well in her position.
During her time at Oceaneering, Liz said she feels as if she is still serving her country and appreciates still being able to work in the underwater realm. She enjoys learning and interacting with different individuals across the globe.
“Every day is new; I get to interact with a lot of different people. I also get to work on and near the water, which always has a calming effect on me. Surveying vessels in support of the Navy’s submarine rescue mission is a job I never imagined, but I am certainly enjoying the journey.”
She finds the values instilled within her during her years of service correspond with Oceaneering’s Core Values.
“The Coast Guard’s core values are honor, respect, and devotion to duty. These align with Oceaneering’s core values quite well. Doing the right thing is intrinsic to having honor. While solving complex problems, outperforming expectations, and owning the challenge all go hand in hand with an individual’s dedication to duty. In addition, respecting your coworkers is the first step to growing together and ensuring productive communication.”
On transitioning to the civilian workforce after service, Liz stressed the importance of knowing what resources are available.
“Consider the reserves. Educate yourself on VA benefits. California specifically has a lot of great programs (CALVET) and benefits.”
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